Discussion. Since the NMR spectrum of the isolated compound [taiwanxan, (II), m.p. = 500-503 K] indicates three acetyl groups (2.016, 2.028, 2.039) and an ct-methylbutyrate group (0.88, t, J = 7.4 Hz; 1.11, d, J = 7 HZ), the structure is very similar to the known compound (I) (De Marcano & Halsall, 1969), taxa-4(20),11-diene-2a,5 et,7fl,9o., 10fl-pentol 7fl,9a,10fl-triacetate 2~t-ct-methylbutyrate, C31H4609, m.p. = 500-502 K. The structure of taiwanxan, (II), was revealed by X-ray single-crystal diffraction studies as taxa-4(20), 11-diene-2a,5a,9a,10ft, 14fl-pentol 2a,9a, 10fl-triacetate 14fl-a-methylbutyrate.